Combing machine



May 29, 1928.

F. L. CROCKETT COMBING MACHINE Filed D80. 29, 1.924

6 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 29, 1928. 1,671,101

F. L. CROCKETT COMBI NG MACHI NE Filed Dec. 29, L924 -6 Sheets-Sheet 21| fay/(M May 29, 1928.

F. L. CROCKETT COMBING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1.924

6 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 29, 1928. 1,671,101

F. L. CROCKETT COMBING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 6Sheets-Sheet 5 F. L. CROCKETT COMBING MACHINE Filed Dec. 1924 May 29,1928.

May 29, 1928. 1,671,101

F. L. CROCKETT COMBING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 IATTORNEY fl Patented May 129, 1928.

UNITED stems orr cn.

FRANK L. onoexn'rr, or EAST DQUGLAS, MASSACHUSETTS, ASS'IGNOR T 'wm'rmMAGHIN E WORKS, 0F WHITINSVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS,

SACHUSETTS.

A CORPORATION OF MAS- GOMB'ING MACHINE.

Application filed December 29, 1924. Serial'No. 758,516.

The invention improves the efiiciency and rate of production .of combingmachines of the so-cel-led Heilman type and comprehends variouscombinations and relations of parts as hereinafter described and whichre here'- in shown as combined in a single cotton Coniber, but which maybe separately employed in various relations in existing or other typesof combers sswill heremafter become apparent.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a general vertical section through one ofthe comb heads of a cotton-combing machine en bodying my invention; thisView illustrates the relation of the various centers and gen-- eral modeof operation, but, for sake of clearness, omits various of the necessaryparts and appurtenances common to these machines.

Figure 2 is a top plan of a part of the drive head and one of thecombing heads, with the lap plate removed from the latter.

Figure 3 is a section on line IIIII-I of ni 2, of the drive headmechanism.

Figure 4 is the same iew with the parts in a different position.

Fig". 5 is a perspective diagram illustratingthe motion obtained in themechanism of Figs.-

and 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through a combing head with parts brokenaway to show the mode of suspension of the nipper frame, the top combarms being indicated in the elevated position and broken off and thenipper frame being shown in its rear or combing position.

Fig. 7 is a cross section through the nipper frame in its forward ordetaching position.

Fig. 8 is a. vertical section on line VIII of Fig. 2, illustrating theWeight-relieving system of the front detaching rolls.

Fig. 9 is- :1 detail illustrating the holder and pressi'lre mechanismfor the lap feed roll.

Fig. 10 is a similar detail illustrating the lap feed roll drivemechanism.

Fig. 11 a perspective detail of the lapfeed adjustment.

Fig. 12 is a detail section on line XII- hippo-11' Figs, 15 and 16 arerespectively cross section and rear elevation of a modified andpreferred form of mechanism for actuating the main rock shaft.

Fig. is a detail front elevation of the connection between the nipperframe and piecing mechanism; and

Fig. 18 is a section on line XVI-II of In the present somber, as inothers of the same type, a lap of fibre or cotton is fed from the creelrollers 1 (Fig. 1) over the lap plate 2, to the lap feed roll 3 andthence into the bite of the nipper jaws i and 5 by which its projectingend is first presented to the action of the combing needles on therotarycomb cylinder 6, and then to the bite of the detaching and.piecing rolls 7 where in the forward end of the combed tuft isoverlapped on the tail end of the last preceding tuft. On the fori'va-rdmotion of the detaching rolls the tuft is drawn from the nipper jaws andthrough the top comb 8 which has been lowered for the purpose, beingthereby detached from the lap. From thedetaching rolls the pieced sliveradvances through the front rolls 9 into and through the sliver pan 10and its trumpet 11 and thence through the calendar rolls 12' onto thesliver apron or table 13 on which it is drawn lengthwise of the comberto the draw head, not shown, at the end of the latter. The detachingandpiecing rolls periodically reverse their motion for the purpose ofpresenting the tail ends of each successively combed tuft in position tobe overlapped with the head end of the next following tufti as will beunderstood by those skilled in this art.

Appropriate motion is 'ii'nparted to the vvarious members of the combinghead, just referred to, from mechanismconstituting the drivehead at theend of the machine,

according to the established principles of drive-head design and as willbe understood.

The rock shaft 14 extends from the drive head through all the comberheads, being jonrnalled in the intermediate frame up-,

rights which separate the com ber head spaces. At its drive head endthis shaft is provided with a stub arm 15 keyed thereto and the adjacentcrank arm 16 which is mounted free on shaft 14; is adjustably bolted tothe stub. At its outer end the crank arm 16 carries the bearing 17 of ashaft 21 presently referred to. The adjustment between the stub 15 andits crank arm 16 is represented by the double-ended eyebolt 18 carriedon the latter and the eye of which is engaged to a pin 19 fixed in theend of the stub, and also by the varc slot and set bolt 20 which serveto secure the adjustment, as will be apparent. By means of theseadjustments the shaft bearing 17, on the end of the crank arm 16, can beset in the desired angular relation to the rock shaft 14 and the variouscomber' head parts operated by the latter; the limits of the movementsof said parts can be thereby simultaneously and equally altered. Thespecific design of these adjustments, however, is not important and canobviously be substituted by other equivalent adjustment mechanism.

One end of the shaft 21, which is journalled in the bearing 17 on theend of the -crank arm 16, is connected by a crank arm 22, fixed thereon,to the eccentric strap 23 of an eccentric 2-1 which latter is adjustablysecured by bolts to the side of the main comb shaft, or index gear 25.This gear drives the comb cylinder shaft 26 on which all the combcylinders 6 are mounted and is itself driven by a drive pinion 27representing the source of power for the machine. The adjustment betweenthe eccentric and the index gear is by means of the arcuate slots 28(Figs. and 4:) and the purpose of the adjustment is to set the operationof the nipper and feed mechanism in proper timing with the combcylinders and detaching motion, as will presently appear.

he motion imparted to theshaft 21 by the eccentric is controlled by theslotted crank arm 2) fixed on the opposite end of said shaft. The slotin crank arm 29 engage and rides on a fixed stud 30 mounted in a.bracket 31 which is adjustably supported on the comber frame by means ofthe bolts and arcuatc slots marked 32 in Fig. 3, so that the position ofthe stud can be changed. As the eccentric rocks the shaft 21, the rotarymotion of the latter, in its bearing 17, is restrained by the stud andslot so that some of the motion is converted into lateral movement ofthe shaft with consequent movement of the rock shaft- 14 by which it iscarried. The simple crank motion of the eccentric is thus modified, inits transmission to the rock shaft 141;, by the shaft 21 and thecharacter of the motion of rock shaft 14 is determined by the curvatureof the slot in the crank arm 29 and the position of the fixed-stud 30which is adjustable, as stated, so that such movement can be con trolledas desired. I

Substantially the same kind of motion can likewise be imparted to therock shaft 1 1: by the organization shown in Figures 15 and 16 whichpreferred because of its greater simplicity. In these figures the shaft21, corresponding to shaft 21, is carried in the end of alink 33swinging on a fixed axis Set and is journalled in a slipper block and inthe end of the eccentric rod 23 from which it receives lateral motion.The slipper block slides back and forth in the fork slot 36 of the crankarm 16 on the rock shaft 1ft. This crank arm corresponds to arm 16 inthe form first described and is also angularly adjustable on the shaftby means which will be understood without description. In this case'lheshaft 21 and its appurtenant parts represent the means for modifyingthe crank motion of the eccentric as imparted to the main rock shaft.

The rock shaft 14: actuates the nipper mechanism, as presently explainedand the purpose of the modified crank motions just described is to causethe nipper to have a greater dwell while in their retracted or combingposition, so that all th rows of needles on the comb cylinders may havemaximum action on the tuft. A similar motion might be obtained by meansof a cam, but the type of mechanism above described is preferred becauseof its smoothness and quietness of operation and the use of suchmechanism constitutes one of the important features of this invention.

Referring now to the combing heads, all the principal parts of eachhead, including the top comb, are organized in and carried by the nipperframe, and according to this invention the latter is supported by frontand rear links, so that it pal-takes of something of a parallel motionas it moves toward and from the detaching rolls. Preferably it issuspended,that is to say hangs, by its links which are pivoted to pointsof support located above the level of the cushion plate. The nipperframe proper is marked 37, being constituted of two upright side platesor parts united by an integral bed part or cross member to the underside of which the cushion plate 5 is secured. ,The construction is mostclearly illustrated in Figures 6. 13 and A.

At its forward end, 38, the nipper frame pivotally connected to thelower ends of the pair of front links 39; the pair of rear links 10 and10 are connected to it at points adjacent its cross member. The frontlinks 39 are duplicates of each other, but one of the rear links isspecially formed or extended for the operation of the lap feed roll 3 aslater described, for which reason it has been marked 40. The upper endsof the '1 front and rear links are pivoted-by their upper ends toupstanding frame parts marked 41 and thelinks of the frontpair areformed in part ofthreadcd members so that they ar v adjustableas tolength which enables the path of the cushion plate to be l'irimght asclose as desired to the path of the combneedles.

The operating connection of the nipper frame with the mainrock shaft14': is made by a pair of link connections with the two crank arn'is a3adjustably fixed on that shaft. The two links are pivoted to the frameby a common pivot shaft 1-4 carried in lugs on the back side of thecross member of the nipper frame (see Figs. 13 and 1 4). Thenipper-actuating crank arms 43 are adjustably secured on the rock shaft14v by means of their split hubs; The levers 45 which carry the nipperknife%i,at their front ends, are fulcrumed on or concentric to, thepivot shaft 44: and on the inner sides of the side plates of the nipperframe.

he side plates just referred to are-extended rearwardly to form thesupport for the top comb arms 46 which are pivoted to such extensions,sothat the top comb 8, which is adjustably secured on the front ends ofsaid arms, may be'raised and lowered. The ad justment of the top comb onits arms will be seen to be the usual adjustment, enabling theinclination of the comb to be accurately set with reference to thenipper jaws. The forward ends of the top comb arms are supported by twostrut links 1-7, one on each side of the head, which links are pivotedat their lower ends to rearwardly extending arms 48 of the frontsuspension links 39. These strut links are provided with slots engaged'by inwardly projecting studs 49 on the top comb nuns and in the normalposition of the top comb these'studs rest in the bottoms of the slots...hen the top comb is lifted it can be held out'of action by seating thestuds in the notches 50 which are offset from the upper ends of theslots, as indicated in Figure (3. The studs 49am adjustablo withreference to the top comb arms which any them. The adjustment con1-prises, for each arm, a plate 51 which carries the stud 49 which plate(Fig. (3) is adjustably bolted on the outer side of the arm, with thestud projecting through an arcuate slot in the latter.v The object ofthis adustment is tojvary the depth of penetration of the top comb teethinto the tuft, and

it will be apparent that the effect can be accomplished in other. ways,as for instance by making the stud seat adjustable, instead of the stud.The strut links 47 are bent'or staggeredso that although their lowerends are pivoted to the rearwardly extending the links being] ofdifferent l.engths, results in. a. compound movement of the nipper aws,and the tuft held by them. The aws are in the retracted position inFigure 6.

From this position, the tuftheld in them follows nearly a straight linepath to the detaching rolls as the nipper frame swings from theconjibing position to its front position indicated in Fig. 7. In themeantime. thechange of the angular relation between the rearwardlyextending arms 48 on the front suspension links 39 has the effect oflowering the strut links 4t? and correspondingly lowering the top comb8, the change of position being enough to bring the top comb into itsoperatingposition, while advancing with the tuft. The top comb is thuswholly carried by the nipper frame and receives its lift-and-fall fromthe change of an ular position between the frame and the link or linkswhich support it, and when not in use is still carried by the samemembers, but in, anielevated position.

1 The operation of the nipper knife is effected coincidently with themotion of the nipper frame by means of a connection with another memberofthe nipper organization which changes its angular relation, to thenipper frame proper as the result of the movement of the latter. In thepresent case the actuating crank arm 1-3 is the operating member. It isprovidedyvith a rearward heel 52, projecting at right angles to thelength of the arm, so that it swings downwardly as the arm advances thelinks 42 and the nipper frame to the detaching position. This downwardmotion of the heel 52 is ma e effective on the rear ends of the nipperknife levers 45 to open the nipper jaws at the proper time, by means ofthe links 53, which arepivotally connected by the pivot shaft 54Jto theheels 52, and by a pivot rod 55, to the forward ends of second-classlevers 56 fulcrnnled at 57 on the extreme rear ends of the nipper knifelevers. The links 53 are formed of threaded rods for adjustment oflength.

The secondelass levers 56 are connected to the nipper knife levers byspring means applied so as to draw both levers together, which has theeffect of closing and pressing the'nipper knife against 'the'cusnionplate, this being because the front endsof levers 56 are held by thelinks The spring means for this purpose may be variously organized andas herein shown comprises two cross-rods 58 and 59 carried respectivelyby the levers 56 and 45. The small rod 60 is slidingly mounted in thesquared enlargements in both rods, and springs are applied to its outerends between the enlargements and the nuts 61. The nut at each end ofthe rod is skirted to cover the spring and knurled on its outer side tofacilitate adjustment. There are two such rods and springs, one adjacenteach nipper knife lever, as shown in 2 but one in the middle wouldsuffice. It will be seen that the spring agency for each rod is divided,part being above and part below the nipper knife levers, but ohviously,and as before stated, the spring pressure can be applied in any suitableway so as to give a yielding pressure between the crank arm 43 and thenipper kiiifmnormally closing the nipper jaws but permitting them to beopened against the tension of the spring or springs at any point in thenipper movement.

As the crank arm t3 advances the nipper frame to its detaching positionit coincidently depresses the second-class levers 5t and, at apre-determined point, the outwardly projecting lugs 62 on the lattercome into engagement with the abutment screws 63 carried by the nipperknife levers and thereupon the nipper knife is positively opened, butthe action is easy, because the parts are moving in substantially thesame direction when the contact occurs. Obviously the adjustment of theabutment screw 63 determines the point at which opening occurs. Figure 1shows the nipper frame retracted and the nipper openinglug 62 separatedfrom the abutment screws, whereas Figure 7 shows the lug in engagementwith and depressing the abutment screws.

Coincidently with the movement above referred to the lap feed roll 3 isrotated to advance the lap toward the nipper jaws and this rotation isaccomplishedbymechanism entirely carried by the nipper frame and alsooperated by the relative change of the angular position of one of theparts of the nip per organization. For this purpose the rear suspensionlink 40, companion to link 40, is provided with a rearwardly extendingarm 64 at its lower end. This arm is shown more clearly in Figures 10,11 and 12. A plate 65 is adjustably secured to the inner face of theextension 64- as shown by Figure ll and the forward end of this plate isconnected by a link 66 to the arm of the ratchet box 67 on the end ofthe lap feed roll. As the nipper frame swings it will be apparent thatthe ratchet box will be oscillated, due to the angular movement of thearm 64', which in turn forwardly rot-ates the lap feed roll. The arm 6%appears in Fig. 2, but the other parts of the lap feed mechanism areomitted from this figure for the sake of clarity.

Figures 9, 10, 13 and 14 show the means whereby the lap feed roll 3 isheld in position and resiliently pressed against the cushi'on plate. Thegudgeonof the feed roll, at each end, is held in a hook bearing 68secured 011 the end of a rod (59, which latter is mounted withprovisions for longitudinal adjustment in a frame 70. The adjustment issecured by a set screw or bolt 71. The holder frames 7 0 are pivoted onthe same studs, 72, by which the rear links 40 and 4:0 are connected tothe nipper frame, and at their rear ends are provided with springs 7 3,appropriately housed and adjustable. These springs are connected tofinger hooks .7 a which may be readily engaged or disengaged with theheaded studs carried by, or formed on, the ends of the top comb armpivots. When the finger hooks 74; are thus engaged to the studs 75, thesprings 73 are under tension and correspondingly press the lap feedroller against the cushion plate,but such pressure can be instantlyrelieved by disengaging the finger hooks from the studs 75, as will beapparent.

The nipper frame movement'is imparted to the rear top detaching roll 7to give it a movement of translation upon the rear lower detachingrolls. F or this purpose blocks 7 6 are applied to the lower ends of thefront suspension links 39 to form a pivotal connection for theconnecting rods 77, and each of the latter extends forwardly, to a splitsleeve 78 on a stud 79 which is pivotally carriedat the u )per end of apivoted strut 80,-

which therefore swings with the nipper frame. The stud 79 constitutesthe fulcrum of the stirrup lever 81 of the top detaching roll 7. Exceptat the ends of the machine, each connecting rod 77 is connected to thetwo adjacent suspension links 39 on opposite sides of the intermediateframe uprights so that such rods overlie the upper edges of saidintermediate frame supports, between the comber heads and each pivotedstrut, 80, and its stud 79, may thus constitute the sup port for theproximate stirrups :of the top rolls 7 of adjacent comber heads, all ofwhich rolls are thus moved in unison.

The stirrup lever 81 is weighted by means of the link 82 coi'inectingits lower end with a weight lever 83 pivoted to the framing at 84.. Theweight 85, hung on this lever, presses the top detaching rollerdownwardly, uniformly, regardless of the position of the stirrupsupporting strut and while it is in motion. By lifting the lever 83 theroll pressure is relieved and if lifted far enough the stud 86 thereonwill. latch into a notch 87 in a latch lever and be held elevatedthereby. v

The latch lever notch 87 drops by gravity into its latching position. Itis hung from a bracket 88 (see Fig. 7 secured to a cross bar 89, formingpartof the comber frame.

The front detaching top roll 9 is held by a stirrup 89 at each end,pivoted at 90 to an upright pivot plate 91 which. is adjusterner with anarm 9 1 on a rocker member 95 which member is rotatably journalled byits trunnions 9 6, one of which is journalled' in bracket 88 and theother in bracket 92. The arms 97 are fixed to the rocker member 95 andextend obliquely, and towards each other, beneatht-he sliver pan wherethey carry the weights 98 for the front top roll. The rocker member-95is provided with an upstanding finger 99 by means of which it can'bemanually rocked on its trunnions to raise the weights, when it isdesired to relieve the pressure on the front roll. A lat-ch orhook-lOO,pivoted on the-finger 99, is adapted to hook by gravity onto the rearedge of bracket 88 to hold the pressure re lieved; the upper ends'ofthese hooks are formed with round thumb pieces which are pressed downto unlatch them. Thus the pressure-relieving means of both front andrear detaching rolls are automatically latched andsuch means for therear detaching rolls is organized so as to be unaffected by the motionimparted to those rolls and their stirrups by the nipper frame andconnecting rods.

I The compound. movement imparted to the tuftas above pointed out, hasthe effect of causing it to move slightly downwards into the path of thehalf-lap as the nippers swing backward and so as to enter deeply intothe half-lap needles (Fig. 1), while on its forward movement, it risesout of the half-lap (Fig. 7) to enter the detaching rolls. The modifiedcrank motion imparted to the actuating rock shaft,as above described,gives a relatively fast approach of the tuft to the detaching position.Thisis mainly due to the fact that the point of bearing which thedriving eccentric has on'the rock shaft crankarm 16*, represented by thecross-pin'Ql,

does not move past the line of centers of the shafts 14 and 34:. Itstarts from the righthand position shown in Fig. 15 and moves to theleft, an amount equivalent to the eccentricitv of 24, but does not crosstheline and is at the end of its left-ward travel when the tuft isclosest to the detaching rolls. During its said movementthe point ofhearing 21 on the crank-arm 16 is movingupwards on'the latter,shortening the effective radius thereof and-speeding up the motion ofthe nipper frame accordingly. This gives the fast approach referred toand has the advantage thatthe tuft is held a maximum timein the half-lapneedles but yet arrives at the overlap in good season for making the thedetaching rolls are not required to be their forward movement until thehalf-lap needles have passed the point where they might drag off any ofthe preceding tuft. This nippermotion,being independent of cams, issmooth and imparts no appreciable shock to the machine.

I claim:

1. In a cotton comber, the combination with the comb cylinder anddetaching mechanism, of a nipper frame carrying the nipper knife leverand supported by front and rear links, and means independent of thelinks for reciprocating the frame toward and from the detachingmechanism.

2. In a 'comber, the combination With the comb cylinder and detachingmechanism, of a'nipper frame and cushion plate supported on front andrear links one of which is pivotally connected to the machine frameabove the level of the cushion plate and means independent of the linksfor reciprocating the frame toward and from the detaching mechanism.

3. In a comber, thecombination with the comb cylinder and detachingmechanism, of a nipper frame suspended by front and rear suspensionlinks on-which it is moved toward and from the detaching mechanism.

4. In a comber, the combination with the comb cylinder and detachingmechanism, of a nipper frame suspended on front and rear suspensionlinks of different radius lengths.

5. In a comber, the combination of the comb cylinder and detachingmechanism, of a nipper frame suspended on relatively longfrontsuspensionlinks and shorter rear links.

6. In a combeigthe combination with the comb cylinder and a swingingnipper frame of a nipperknife, lap feed and top comb all carried by theframe, and a detaching top roll connected to and operated by theswinging movement of said frame.

7. In a comber, the coi'i'ibination wiihthe comb cylinders and linkssupporting the nipper frame, of a detaching top roll and a connectionbetween the supports for said roll. and two of said supporting links.

8. I11 a (somber, the combination with the comb cylinder, of a swingingnipper frame. a detaching top roll, a lever-type stirrup therefor,pressure-applying means acting on said stirrup, and means connecting thefulcrum of said stirrup with said swinging nipper frame.

9. In a comber, the combination with the comb'cylinder, of a swingingnipper frame, a detaching top roll, a lever-type stirrup therefor, afulcrum for said stirrup carried on a strut link and connected to saidswinging frame, a pressure means, a pressure-recomb cylinder, of alinksuspended nippe-r frame, a detaching top roll, a lever type stirruptherefor, and a fulcrum for said stirrup carried on a strut link andconnected to said frame for operation thereby.

11. In a comber, the combination with the comb. cylinder, of a nipper fame, a lap feed roller carried thereon, front and rear suspension linkssupporting said frame and means between a said link and roller foroperating said roller.

12. In a comber, link suspendcd,a swinging nipper structure, a lap feedroll thereon and pressui.'e-a11 plyi11g means for said roll comprising aspring, one end of which active to press said roller and. the other endof which reheasably connectable to the swinging structure.

13. In a comber, a link-suspei'ided nipper frame, a lap feed rollthereon, means whereby said roll is operated by change in angularrelation of said frame and its link support and a sprin to applypressure on the roll, both ends or which are carried by and move withthe parts of the nipper frame.

1%. In a comber, an advancing and receding nippcr frame having a nipperknife,

lever, and a crank arn for moving said frame having a heelpartforoperating said lever.

15. In a comber, an advancing and receding nipper frame carrying anipper knife lever, an oscillating crank arm for moving the frame havinga heel part for opening the lever, and means supported by the nipperframe for imparting closing pressure to the nipper knife.

18. In a comber, a link-suspended nipper frame carrying a nipper knifelever-and an oscillating crank arm for swinging theframe having a partfor opening the lever as the nipper frame swings forward;

17. In a comber, the combination of an advancing and receding nipperframe carrying a nipper knife lever, an oscillating crank arm: movingwith the frame, and means whereby the arm operates the lever, comprisingspring means on said lever engaged by said crank arm.

18. In a comber, the combination of a nipper frame with nipper leversthereon, an

oscillating crank arm moving with the frame, spring means connecting thenipper levers with said crank arm and tending to close the nipper leversand an abutment moving with the frame whereby said crank arm opens thenipper levers.

19.111 a comber, the combination of a nipper frame, nipper leverthereoma lever fulcrumed on. the nipper lever, and means engaged withthe latter lever foropwrating the nipper lever.

20. In acomber, a nipper frame, anipper lever thereon, a lever fulcrumedon the nip.- per lever and spring-connected thereto and the other lever.

me'ans for operating the nipperle'ver through 21. In a c0m-ber,a nipperframe and nipper lever, a member movably connected to said lever andcarrying a part for engagement with an abutment on said lever, and.

nipper-operating means engaged with said member. v

22. In acomber, an advancing and re-: ceding niipper frame, a top comb,and a lever member pivoted on said frame one arm of saidmember having apoint which isfixed on the comber frame and the otherarin imparting liftand fall to the top comb;

23. In a comber, a link-suspended nipper frame, one of the links havingarearwardly extended arm and a top comb carried on the frame and moved bysaida-rm. I

2%. In a. comber, a link-suspended nipper frame carrying a pair of topcomb arms, one ofthe links having an arm located in a plane on the outersideof the adjacent top-comb arm, atopv comb support between said linkarm and the inner side of said top combarm for supporting the latter.

25. In a comber, the combination with the combcylinder and detachingmechanism of anipper frame supported on-frontand rear l nk members oneof which is plvotally connected to the machineframe above thecomb nectedto said frame independently of said links for operating the same.

21. Ina comber, the combination with the comb cylinder and detachingmechanism, of a nipper framesuspended.onfront and rear link of difierentradius lengths,and a-rock' shaft. having a crank arm connected to saidframe.

28. In a comber, the combination ofan advancing nipper frame, arock-shaft carrying a driven crank arm, driving meanstherefor, and ashaft rotatably engaged with said crank arm and forming a motion modulating connection between the same and said driving means.

29. In a comber, tllGCOYllbllltLtlOIl of an' advancing nipperframe, arock-shaft to move the same carrying a driven crank arn'ndriving meanstherefor, and a memberrotata'bly and slidingly engagedto said arm andforming the operatingconnection thereof with said driving means:

.30. In a comber, the combination of a nipper frame, suspended on" along front link and ashorter rear link, aro'ck shaffi for actuating thenipper frame and means for I ll!) amer imparting a modified crank motionto said rock-shaft.

31. In a comber, a detaching top roll, a stirrup therefor mounted on aswinging fulcrum, a pressure-applying lever acting on' said stirrup'andan automatic gravity'latch for said lever.

32. In a comber, a top roll, a sliver pan in front of it, stirrups forsaid roll and pressure-applying means connected to said stirrupscomprising arms extending under said sliver pan.

33. In a comber, a top roll provided with stirrups, a sliver pan, andpressure means for the roll comprising rocker members connect ed to saidstirrups and having weight-carrying arms extending inwardly and undersaid sliver pan.

34. In a comber, a top roll, stirrups therefor, a sliver pan andpressure-applying means for said stirrups comprising rocker membersprovided with Weight arms extending under the pan and with a latch tohold the Weight arms elevated.

35. In a comber, a top roll, a link-suspended nipper frame, theproximate links of adjacent comber heads having a common connecting rodextending forwardly in the plane of the framing between comber heads andconnected with said top roll.

36. In a comber, the combination of the comb cylinder and detachingmechanism comprising top and bottom detaching rolls,

of a linlr suspendecl nipperframe and an operating connection therefromto said top roll adapted to shift the position thereof.

37. In a comber, the combination'with the comb cylinder and detachingand piecing mechanism,- of a swingingnipper frame, a top comb carriedthereby and a connection from the frame for operating said mechanism. I

38. In a comber, the combination with the comb cylinder, of a? nipperframe, a suspension link supporting the front of said frame, a swinginglink supporting the rear ofsaid frame, means for swinging the frame, ade'- taching bottom roll and a detaching top roll having a translationmotionv relative to said bottom roll. I

39. In a comber, the combination with the comb cylinder, of a nipperframe, a link supporting it, and a lap feed carried by it, and meanswholly carried by said frame whereby said feed is operated bychange ofangular relation between said frame and said supporting link.

40. In a comber, the combination with the comb cylinder, of a nipperframe, a lap feed means carried thereon, a link connectingv said nipperframe to the frame of the comber and having a crank, and means betweensaid crank and feed means for operating the latter.

41. In a comber, thecombination with the comb cylinder, of a nipperframe, a lever connected to it and a lap feed carried by it and operatedby an arm on said lever, and means associated with said arm for adjusting the amount of feed.

4:2. In a comber, a swinging'nipper struc ture, a lap feed roll thereonand pressureapplying means for said rollcomprising a spring one end ofwhich acts on'said roller and the other end of which is provided with afinger hook releasably connectible with a part of said swingingstructure.

43. In a comber, an advancing and receding nipper frame, a top comb, amember carried by the frame for operating the top comb and adapted tosupport it when not in use.

44. In a comber, an advancing and receding nipper frame, a top comb, asupporting lever for said frame one arm of said lever carrying a strutimparting lift and fall to the top comb.

45. In a comber, alink-suspended nipper frame having wreck-shaft toactuate it located. above the level of the comb cylinder, top comb armspivoted to the rear of said frame and extending forwardly over saidshaft and a top comb carried by said arms.

46. In a comber, an advancing nipper frame, a rock-shaft to actuate itlocated above the level of the comb cylinder, top comb arms pivotallymounted on the rear of said frame and extending forwardly over saidshaft and supported at their forward ends on parts moving with saidframe.

47. In a comber, a nipper frame, a rock shaft moving it toward and fromthe detaching rolls, a member driving said rock shaft through a crankmember of changing crank radius, and means for causing said radius todiminish throughout the shaft movement in one direction and increase thloughout its movement in the opposite direction. I

48. In a comber, a movable nipper frame, an operating shaft therefor, amember driv ing said shaft through a crank member of variable crankradius, means for diminish.- ing said radius on one direction of shaftmovement and increasing it on the other and a detaching top roll movableabout the axis of a detaching bottom roll arranged to coactwith thenipper frame on one direction of shaft movement.

49. In a comber, a nipperframe, a shaft moving it toward and from thedetaching rolls, a crank member of changing crank radius'connected tosaid shaft, a member for driving said crank men'iber and means forcausing said radius to diminish throughout the n'iovement of the shaftin the direction to movethe nipper frame toward the de taehing rolls. I

50. In a comber, a nipper frame, a rock shaft extending longitudinallyof the comber for operating said nippe'r frame and other nipper frames,a crank member of changing crank radius carried by said rock shaft andmeans for causing said radius to change throughout the movement of saidshaft in one directionQ 51. In a comber, a nipper frame, a bodilymovabletop detaching roll coacting therewith, anoperating rock shafttherefor, a member driving said rock shaft through a crank member ofchanging radius directly carried by said rock shaft and means forcausing said radius to diminish as the nipper moves toward. saiddetaching roll.

In a comber, a link-supported swing ing nipper frame, an operating shaftto move the same toward. and from the detaching-rolls, a member drivingsaid rock shaft through a crank member of changing radius, and meansforcausing said radius to diminish throughout the movement of the nipperframe in one direction and increase throughout its movement in theopposite direction.

58. In a comber, the combination of a detaching top roll provided withiii-cans for bodily moving it about the axis of a detachingbottom roll,a movable nipper frame coaeting therewith, means for moving said framecomprising a rock shaft having a crank arm connected thereto, and adriving.

member for said shaft having a movable point of bearing on sa d crankarm.

54. In a comber, a swinging nipper frame suspended on front andrearlinks, rock shaft for swinging said frame toward and from the detachingmechanism, a member driving said rock shaft through a crank member ofchanging crank radius and means for causing said radius to diminishthroughout the movement of the nipper f nine in one direction andincrease throughout 1ts movement in the opposite direction.

ward their detaching mechanism, a crank member of changing crank radiuscarried by said rock shaft, an eccentric driver for said crank membermounted concentrically to and driven by said comb-cylinder shaft, andmeans for causing saidradius to change throughout the movement of thenipper frame toward the detaching mechanism.

or frame and other nipper frames to-.

57. In a camber, the combination the comb-cyhnder shaft, the detachlng'rolls, a

movable flip er i anie coacting theren ith, an eccentric on said shaft,a nipper-frame-operatii'i g rock shaft having a crank arm thereon and amovable bearingon said crank arm connected to'said concentric andoperating tochaifige the effective radius of said arm,

58. In a comber, a nipper, a lap feed roll and pressureapplying meanstherefor,com prising a iran'ie fulcrumed on the nipper, an enclosedspring hearing at one end against said frame and means for stressingsaid spring to press the feed rollon the lap.

59. In a (:omber, lap-feeding meanscomprising an intermittently actuatedlap feed roll, a lever supporting the journals of said roll and having aspring-chamber and means for applying pressure to the roll con'iprisingaspring normally contained in and protected by said chamber and manuallydisconnectible means for stressing the spring in the direction'to causeit to press said roll upon the lap. g

60. In a comber an advancing and receding nipper frame, a pivoted topcomb having its pivotal axis fixed on said nipper frame and adapted toswung upwards for-cleaning and means moving with said frame forsupporting said comb in its swung up position.

61. In a eomber, the combination of a comb cylinder, a nipper frame, alink supporting the same from a point on themachine frame above saidcylinder and other means for supporting said. nipper frame, a lap feed.roll.

on said nipper frame, means Wholly carried by said frame for operatingsaid roll, a top.

comb onthe nipper frame and means Wholly carriedby and moving, with thenipper structure for imparting lift and fall to said to comb.

62. Ina eomber, the combination of acomb cylinder, a nipper framesupported on swing ing links to move toward and from the de tachingn'ieehanisn'i, a nipper knifeand a closing spring tiIQIGIUl' whollycarried by the nipper structure, a top comb on the nipper frame andmeans carried by the nipper structure for in'lliml'illllg lift and fallto said top comb.

63. In a comber, the combination with the cembcylinder, of anadvancingand recedill) ing nipper frame suspended on front and rear links, anipper knife having a closing spring wholly carried by said nipperframe,

a top comb carried bysaid frame, means whereby said comb rises and fallsas the frame swings and a lap feed roll operated by the changing angularrelation between said nipper frame andv one of said links.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

FRANK L. onooicnr'r.

